Lives of Distinguished American Naval OfficersJ. C. Derby & Company, 1846 - Naval biography |
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Common terms and phrases
affair Algiers American anchored appears ascer attack Bainbridge Bainbridge's Barron Bashaw batteries blockade boats bomb vessels brig Capt captain captured carried castle character chase circumstances close coast command commenced commodore Constitution crew cruise cruiser Decatur division duty Edward Preble enemy enemy's engaged English Enterprise Essex fell fire force French frigate gallant gentleman George Washington Gibraltar Guadaloupe gun-boats guns harbor hauled Hull induced Intrepid James Barron John Adams joined ketch latter leeward letter-of-marque Lieut lieutenant lugger Malta marine Mediterranean midshipman month Nautilus naval navy occasion occurred officers orders passed peace pennant Philadelphia port Preble Preble's prisoners prize probably rank reached received reef remained rendered returned Richard Somers rocks Rodgers sailed schooner seamen sent Shaw ship shore shot Shubrick Siren Somers soon squadron station Stewart thing tion town Tripoli Tripolitan Truxtun Turks vessels Vixen windward wounded young
Popular passages
Page 23 - ... speaketh." But, allowing that the first position is true, and that these gentlemen actually acquiesce for the sake of quiet, and with a view to advance what they conceive to be the interests of America, I shall maintain that the course is to the last degree impolitic and unworthy. Our motto is to " ask nothing but what is right, and to submit to nothing that is wrong.
Page 198 - Lear," answered Preble, raising himself up to answer, " in accepting this command. Had I known how I was* to be supported, I certainly should have declined it.
Page 107 - Nautilus' midshipmen, to watch the ketch's movements, with a night-glass ; and as this order was strictly complied with, it is almost certain that this officer was the last person of the American Squadron who saw the vessel. She seemed to be advancing slowly."* In a few minutes later, the ketch exploded under the batteries of Tripoli, and the fate of Somers, and the gallant crew was darkened for ever. Somers, Decatur, Reed, and Stewart, the actors and anxious spectators of the doings of that night,...
Page 106 - These three young men, then about twenty-six years of age each, were Philadelphia-bred sailors, and had been intimately associated in service for the last six years. They all knew that the enterprise was one of extreme hazard, and the two who were to remain behind felt a deep interest in the fate of him who was to go in. Somers was grave, and entirely without any affectation of levity or indifference ; but he maintained his usual tranquil and quiet manner. After some conversation, he took a ring...
Page 104 - ... asked Somers if he thought the boats could get out of reach of the shells within the few minutes it was burning. " I think we can, sir,
Page 239 - I know. They join me in regretting that an officer, whose talents and professional abilities have been justly appreciated, and whose manners and conduct eminently fit him for so high a command, should be removed from it.
Page 107 - Nautilus. This officer did not quit his Commander, until it was thought necessary for him to rejoin the vessel of which he was now in charge. When he went over the side of the Intrepid, all communication between the gallant spirits she contained, and the rest of the world, ceased. At that time every thing seemed propitious ; Somers was cheerful, though calm ; and perfect order and method prevailed in the little craft. The leave-taking was affectionate and serious with the officers, though the common...
Page 126 - An anecdote is related of one of the " citizen soldiers" in thi» expedition which is worthy of being recorded. The person referred to was a German by birth, of the name of Koch, and was well known in Philadelphia, in his day, as a large out.door underwriter. He died some ten or twelve years since, in Paris, whither he had gone for the benefit of the climate, leaving a fortune estimated at $1,200,000.
Page 248 - ... with the Intrepid, if possible, unless you can make her the means of destroying the enemy's vessels in the harbor, by converting her into a fire-ship for that purpose, and retreating in your boats and those of the Siren.
Page 240 - If I were to offer my opinion, it would be that you have done well not to purchase a peace with the enemy. A few brave men have, indeed, been sacrificed, but they could not have fallen in a better cause, and I even conceive it advisable to risk more lives rather than to submit to terms, which might encourage the Barbary states to add fresh demands and insults.